Setting and winding mechanism for watches



Sept. 27 1927.

Fig. 7.

C. H. H. RODANET SETTING AND WINDING MECHANISM FOR WATCHES Filed March 12. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet. 1

Sept c. H. H. RODANET SETTING AND WINDING MECHANISM FOR WATCHES Fil ed March 12. 1926 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Sept. 27, 1927.

ennie UNITED STATES PATENT orrica.

CHARLES nrnainnnnnnr nonannr, or LEVALLO'IS, raenonnssienoa To soomrn AnoNYmE Lneoumnna cm, on ma SENT'IER, SWITZERLAND, A CORPORATION or swrrznntann.

SET-TING AND WINDING MECHANISM FOR WATCHES.

Application filedimarch 12, 1926, Serial No. 4,244, and in Switzerland June 6, 1925. r

The present invention relates to setting and winding mechanismfor watches, which essentially is characterized by the fact that it comprises a winding rod or push stem which is arranged radially in a plane parallel to the plate of the :movement, said stem carrying a single pinion and being adapted to slide longitudinally in order to bring the pinion into gear either with a :crown wheel for winding or with a setting gear, members being provided for regulating the meshing motion of the said pinion in both of its possible positions.

The drawing shows by way of example two different forms of the subject matter of the invention.

Figures 1 and 2 are plane views of a first working form; 1

Figure 3. is a section along the line III-III of Figure 1:; Figure 4 is a plane view of a second-working form;

Figure 5 is asection along the line IIII of Figure 4 and Figure 6 is a detail view.

In the first working form the winding stem 10 is arranged radially on the rear face of the plate 11 and in a plane parallel to the latter. It is secured in vplace @by a member 12 fixed to the plate 11 and is adapted to slide longitudinally in said member 12. A spring 13 is provided on the member 12; the end 14 of said spring alternatively engages in two circular grooves 15 and 16 of the stem 10, depending on the position into which the latter is brought. The stem 10 carries on one of its ends a pinion 17 which meshes either with a crown wheel 18 or with a setting gear 19 just as the end 14 of the spring 13 meshes either with the groove 15 or with the groove 16.

A detent 20 turns on a pivot 21 of the member 12. This detent 20 is provided with two beaks 22 and 23, of which beak 22 is in contact with the inner face of the pinion 17, whilst the beak 23 enters into the groove 16 of the rod 10. Thus, if the stem 10 is displaced longitudinally, the free end 24 of the detent is equally displaced and slides freely between the portion 25 of the member 12 and the plate 11. The end 24 of the detent 20 presents a projection 26 constituting an in-,

clined plane or ramp.

On the pawl 27 of the clockwork is fixed a small pin 28 which traverses an opening 29 1 members.

ofthe plate 11 inorder to contact with the ramp of the projection 26 of the detent 20.

The arrangement of the members above described is such that the pin 28 is in the position A as shown in Fig. 1. If in this positlon the winding stem 10 is longitudinally displaced so as to bring the end 14 of the spring 13 into the groove 16, the projection 26 of the detent 20 may freely move without contacting with the pin 28. If, however, the end 14 of spring 13 meshes with the groove 15 of the stem 10, upon the beginning of the windingoperation the pin 28 is brought into the position 13 as shown in Fig. 1, that is to say on theramp plane of the projection 26 and thereby prevents any displacement of the detent. This means that it is altogether impossible to accidentally displace the stem 10 during the winding operation and to thereby bring the pinion 17 in engagement with the setting gear 19.

The form and the arrangement of the members of the device might be otherwise than shown in the drawing. In particular the winding stem 10 needs not necessarily be arranged on the rear face of the plate 11.

In the second working form (Figs. 4 to 6) the stem 10 at the end of which is fixed the pinion 17 is arranged radially on the rear face of the plate 11 and in a plane parallel to said plate. It is held in place by a bridge 12 fixed to the plate 11 and is adapted to slide longitudinally between these two two circular notches or grooves 15 and 16 into which alternatively penetrates the end 14 of a sliding member 14 submitted to the action of a spring 13 fixed to the bridge 12. r

A detent 20 is pivoted on an axle 21, arranged coaxially with the axle of the pawl 27 of the clockwork upon which is fixed small pin 28 which traverses an opening 29 The winding stem 10 presents.

regard to the spring 13 and to the sliding member 14 is such that normally the member 14 is free to slide whenever the winding rod 10 is displaced longitudinally from one groove, say for instance 15, into the groove 16. But the detent 20 is adapted to be displaced through a small recess of the spring 13 so as to be brought in front of the sliding member 14 which for this reason may no longer be displaced in longitudinal direction. This is the position as represented in Fig. 6 of the drawing.

The function of this mechanism is as follows:

If the time indicator is either to be wound or if it is to be set to time the winding rod or push stem is longitudinally displaced in such a manner as to make the pinion 17 engage with a crown wheel 18 or with the set ting gear respectively (not shown in the drawing) the end 14 of the member it passing in this latter case from groove 15 into groove 16.

If the pinion 17 is in mesh with the crown wheel 18 for winding the time indicator and if the stem 10 is rotated in order to cause the former to become wound, the pawl 27 oscillates around its axle and the small pin 28 moves the detent 20 into the position as represented in Fig. 6, in such a manner that the member 14 may no longer slide for allowing a longitudinal displacement of the winding rod 10. Thus during the whole winding operation it is impossible to accidentally displace the pinion 17 in order to bring it in mesh with the'setting gear.

If the winding operation is finished the pawl 27 returns in its normal position (Fig. 4) and the pin 28 bearing on the end of the spring 30 causes the detent 20 to return in its normal position 4).

The spring 30 besides secures and facilitates the function of the pawl if during winding apull is exercised on the winding rod or push stem.

The device described with the winding member fixed on the upper bridge of the movement presents two capital advantages:

1. For a given diameter of the movement the space available between the plates is entirely free from any winding member and allows the use of more voluminous gear than is the case with ordinary-movements because more room is left for their lodging.

2. For a predetermined thickness of the movement, the winding parts are'much more distant from the dial than in ordinary watches. This feature is particularly advantageous in watches for automobiles if it is desired to place the watch in-the rear of the dashboard and if this latter is of a certain thickness as is the case when made of wood.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a watch, a. winding spindle movable axially to winding and setting positions, a

winding and setting pinion carriedby said spindle, a pawl actuated incident to winding the watch, and means coacting with said pawl to prevent axial displacement of the spindle during the winding operation.

2. In a watch, a winding spindle movable axially to winding and setting positions, a winding and setting pinion carried by said spindle, a pawl actuated incident to winding the watch, and means coacting with said pawl to prevent axial displacement of the spindle during the winding operation, said last mentioned means including a pivotally mounted member having an inclined extremity and a pin carried by said pawl adapted to include the said inclined extremity during the winding operation.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CHARLES HlLAlRE HENRI RODANET. 

